Changing Change Rooms

Today, as I went to work out at my local Aquatic and Recreation Centre, I was greeted with an unexpected situation. ~ Due to workmen installing new lockers in the ladies' change room, the women were to use the men's change room, whereas the men would use the women's in order to facilitate the builders' work. ~

Feeling like I was violating the laws of nature, I cautiously stepped into forbidden territory, expecting an unsightly view to greet me. ~ I did not relax until I saw a woman tousling her wet hair in a corner. ~

Satisfied, I turned my eyes to take in the room. ~ The layout inside was completely different than that of the women's change room. ~ It was smaller, and in surprisingly better condition than the women's change room. ~

I walked around, inspecting the place to satisfy my curiosity. ~ I noticed with surprise that the showers had no dividers, unlike those in the women's change room. ~ In fact, there was barely space for me to stand under a nozzle without intruding into the space allotted for the adjacent nozzle. ~ I tried to imagine a large man standing where I stood, with an even larger man next to him, and an unpleasant image of two balloons squished in a too-tight spaced surfaced in my mind. ~

In the washroom area, the noticeable difference was, evidently, the four white urinals lined up along one wall. ~ In addition to those, there were only two stalls, as compared with the five in the women's change room, yet that much was understandable. ~ However, there was half as much counter space surrounding the sinks. ~ I cocked my head in curiosity. Did men not need just as much room to shave and freshen up? ~

I finished the tour of the place as I went to scope out a locker to stash my bags in. ~ It was then that I was struck with the realization that there were no change stalls. ~ How odd, I mused. What about privacy? Those two bathroom stalls are hardly suitable for a change room full of men. ~

This lead me to ponder about the differences between the two change rooms. ~ Why was it that the City had constructed change rooms with so many less commodities for men than for women? ~ Also, why was privacy considered of so little importance in the men's change room? ~ Did they not deserve the opportunity to change in peace, out of sight, or did they simply not require it? ~

And, can we extrapolate this to society in general? ~ Does society believe women deserve more privacy than men? ~ Do women have some unspoken need to cover themselves? Did society unconsciously impose this need upon them? ~ And what of men? Did society decide that men should not be ashamed of showing themselves, and thus didn't even provide them with the chance to decide whether they wanted to or not? ~

Many questions, and no answer. ~ I suppose when you delve into the intricacies dividing the two genders, neither a female nor a male is justified to make the final judgement. ~

A final note: Much to my astonishment, the men's room was a lot cleaner than the women's. ~ So much for those rumour about noxious fumes and unnavigable terrain. ~

Christmas Time

Written yesterday, while sitting on a stranger's couch amid boisterous laughter and the smell of roasted chicken. ~

Lately, I've felt very disjointed from the "outside" society. ~ What with Organic Chemistry, Historical Inquiries and A Doll's House occupying my mind, the holiday festivities have seemed like a distant dream. ~ When school snares you and keeps you entrapped in her hold, it's hard to get caught up in the holiday experience. ~

So that has gotten me thinking... What is it that really defines the festive quality of the holiday season? ~ Is it the snow-covered, pure-white, snowy winter landscape? ~ The glittery, red-and-green-coloured Christmas decorations strewn on every coverable surface? ~ The candy-cane-loaded, garland-encircled, lit-up Christmas tree? ~ Or should we consider things like the joy of giving and receiving gifts, or of donating money to charity, or of spending time with family and friends? ~

Well, as I sit here on this foreign couch, a brief epiphany relating to this topic strikes me. ~ What really creates and maintains that holiday season feeling is that everyone participates. ~ The shopping malls are all fully-packed with busy, last-minute shoppers struggling to check off everyone on their lists. ~ Bands, choirs and symphonies perform Christmas carols non-stop. ~ Radios food drives are in full-swing, amassing hundreds of thousands of dollars to support those who are less fortunate this cold wintery season. ~ On the last day of classes or of work, everyone says goodbye with a smile and a hug, wishing each other a "Merry Christmas!" and a "Happy New Year!" ~
And admittedly, there will always be that one grumpy Scrooge, complaining about the festivities and good food (Heaven knows why!). ~ But what's most noticeable about even this situation is that they too, are a part of the Christmas experience. ~ Ironically,as a cornerstone of celebrating the holidays, the Scrooges of our world are essential to completing the holiday posse. ~ I'm sure they would be mortified if they thought about it this way, though. ~

So all in all, cliché as though it may seem, it's the humans that make Christmas what it is today. ~ We have constructed a time when everything else is put on hold, where even the busy IB children are caught up in celebrations. ~ And indeed, as my parents enjoy a glass of wine or two, I sit here (not drinking - I'm the designated driver, it seems) and pull out my phone, ready to call a friend and begin my own Christmas experience. ~